Living with Thalassemia: Social Services -- Thalassemia.com

Living with Thalassemia: Resources & Support
▶ Psychosocial
▶ Child Life
▶ Social Services
▶ Transportation/Travel
▶ Provider List
▶ Patient Support Groups: A Perspective
▶ Support Groups (list)
▶ Other organizations Painted Turtle Make-A-Wish Foundation Cooley's Anemia Foundation
▶ Perspectives Newsletters
▶ Translated brochures
▶ Relevant links

Resources and Support

Social Services

crazy hats Social services that meet the needs of the patients in a culturally sensitive way are critical for patients with a chronic disease that requires an inordinate amount of resources.

Social services should:

evaluate functioning in the community and at school/work
provide for adequate social and medical services
assess the need for financial assistance and make referrals to community services/resources
make it a priority to obtain health insurance for patients (children and adults) and families with thalassemia

Social Services at CHRCO includes the following:

Emotional/Mental Health Support:
- MSW Role: grief/crisis counseling and assessment/referrals for mental health resources.
- Resources: ACCESS (Mental Health Hotline in Alameda County) 1-800-491-9099; contact MSW for resources outside of Alameda County.
Access To Care Support:
- MSW Role: referrals to hospital-based and community-based resources for lodging and transportation to ensure that our patients will have access to medical care at our program.
- Resources:
  1. Transportation
    - Regional Transit Connection Discount Card Program (low-cost public transit in Bay Area) www.transit.511.org/disabled/RTDC.aspx.
    - Paratransit (door-to-door service for individuals with physical disabilities in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties): www.eastbayparatransit.org.
    - Southwest Airlines Green Pass Ticket Program (free airline tickets may be available for patients who live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area; contact MSW for details).
    - Taxi vouchers and gas money (provided by CHRCO Social Services Dept as needed: contact MSW for details).
  2. Lodging
    - Family House (CHRCO lodging program for patients who live outside the Bay Area; includes private bedrooms and communal bathrooms/kitchen; contact MSW for details).
    - Hotel Discount Programs (hospital discounts for local hotels available; contact MSW for details).
    - Section 8 Housing (public housing program for low-income individuals and families; contact MSW for details).
Financial/Insurance Programs:
- MSW Role: referrals and advocacy for state medical insurance programs and financial assistance for low-income individuals.
- Resources:
  1. Health Insurance
    - Medi-Cal: www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/ApplyforMedi-Cal.aspx.Contact MSW for various insurance programs under Medi-Cal, including Healthy Families, Alameda Alliance, Medi-Cal Managed Care, etc.
    - California Children's Services (for people under age 21) www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/ccs/pages/default.aspx
    - Genetically Handicapped Persons Program (for people age 21 and over) www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/ghpp/Pages/default.aspx.
  2. Disability Benefits
    - Social Security Supplemental Income:www.ssa.gov/pgm/ssi.htm.
  3. Social Assistance
    - cash aid, food stamps in Alameda County: www.alamedasocialservices.org.Contact MSW for details on the application process within and beyond Alameda County.
  4. Employment
    - Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (state employment and life skills training program for individuals with disabilities): www.rehab.cahwnet.gov.
  5. Charitable Organizations
    - Make A Wish Foundation (program for children under age 18 with transfusion-dependent, severe forms of Thalassemia and other life-threatening conditions): www.wish.org.
    - The Wish Connection (program for children under age 18 with Thalassemia and other lifethreatening or chronic conditions): thewishconnection.org.
    - Painted Turtle Camp (annual summer camp in Southern California for children ages 16 and under with transfusion-dependent Thalassemia and other chronic conditions) www.thepaintedturtle.org.
Advocacy:
- MSW Role: to advocate for the educational and safety rights of our patients and families.
- Resources:
  1. Educational
    - 504 Plan and IEP (for school-age children who require special accommodations for their academic curriculum due to health and other conditions): www.ed-center.com/504.Contact MSW for details on how to initiate these programs in your local community
  2. Legal
    - East Bay Community Law Center (legal aid center in Alameda County for low-income families): www.ebclc.org.
  3. Domestic Violence
    - CHRCO Center For Child Protection (counseling for children and families who are victims of domestic violence).
    - Alameda County Family Justice Center (counseling, legal assistance, and law enforcement resources for domestic violence victims): www.acfjc.org.